Launch
Launch
Students will launch the film festival challenge by analyzing how short films shape audience experience, improvising and filming quick scene tests, and using early feedback plus community input to define strong audience-centered directions for later research and planning.
Days 1 - 3
Synthesize & Pitch
Synthesize & Pitch
Students will synthesize audience research into a focused film direction, generate and compare multiple short film concepts, and pitch storyboarded options that show how story structure, shot sequencing, and scene transitions are designed for a specific audience.
Days 10 - 15
Refine & Present
Refine & Present
Students will turn tested concepts into polished festival-ready short films by tightening rough cuts, validating choices with representative viewers, revising through structured critique cycles, and preparing a public-facing director’s note and team presentation that explain how audience feedback shaped the final film.
Days 22 - 27
Launch
Days 1–3
Day 1
🎬 Red Carpet Scene Sprint
Launch
145m
Day 2
🧠 Audience Experience Breakdown
Knowledge/Skill Building
135m
Day 3
🎤 Festival Standards Q&A Notes
Community Experience
145m
Research & Plan
Days 4–9
Day 4
🎬 Audience Hooks in Short Films
Knowledge/Skill Building
120m
Day 5
📝 Interview Protocol and Consent Cards
Knowledge/Skill Building
135m
Day 6
🎤 Viewer Interviews and Festival Q&A
Community Experience
145m
Day 7
🗂️ Empathy Map and Assumption Check
Research
145m
Day 8
📄 Short Film Direction Brief
Deliverable
145m
Day 9
✅ Crew Plan and Checkpoint Conference
Assessment
145m
Synthesize & Pitch
Days 10–15
Day 10
🧩 Audience Insight Wall
Knowledge/Skill Building
145m
Day 11
🎯 How Might We Brief
Knowledge/Skill Building
145m
Day 12
🗂️ Concept Sprint Boards
Project Work
145m
Day 13
🗣️ Storyboard Pitch Clinic
Deliverable
145m
Day 14
📋 Pitch Deck and Shot Plan
Deliverable
145m
Day 15
🎬 Greenlight Concept Pitch
Assessment
145m
Prototype & Test
Days 16–21
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Refine & Present
Days 22–27
Day 22
🎬 Rough Cut Revision Clinic
Knowledge/Skill Building
120m
Day 23
🛠️ Rough Cut Peer Notes Round
Deliverable
145m
Day 24
✂️ Final Cut Build Session
Project Work
145m
Day 25
👥 Validation Screening with Festival Partner
Community Experience
145m
Day 26
📝 Director’s Note and Intro Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building
135m
Day 27
🎥 Final Cut Presentation Gate
Assessment
145m
Showcase
Days 28–30
Day 28
🎬 Festival Run-of-Show Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building
120m
Day 29
🎥 Behind the Lens Showcase
Community Experience
180m
Day 30
📝 Director's Note Reflection Portfolio
Assessment
135m
May 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
25
Day 1
Launch
🎬 Red Carpet Scene Sprint
26
Day 2
🧠 Audience Experience Breakdown
27
Day 3
🎤 Festival Standards Q&A Notes
28
Day 4
Research & Plan
🎬 Audience Hooks in Short Films
29
Day 5
📝 Interview Protocol and Consent Cards
June 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Day 6
🎤 Viewer Interviews and Festival Q&A
2
Day 7
🗂️ Empathy Map and Assumption Check
3
Day 8
📄 Short Film Direction Brief
4
Day 9
✅ Crew Plan and Checkpoint Conference
5
Day 10
Synthesize & Pitch
🧩 Audience Insight Wall
8
Day 11
🎯 How Might We Brief
9
Day 12
🗂️ Concept Sprint Boards
10
Day 13
🗣️ Storyboard Pitch Clinic
11
Day 14
📋 Pitch Deck and Shot Plan
12
Day 15
🎬 Greenlight Concept Pitch
15
Day 16
Prototype & Test
16
Day 17
17
Day 18
18
Day 19
19
Day 20
22
Day 21
23
Day 22
Refine & Present
🎬 Rough Cut Revision Clinic
24
Day 23
🛠️ Rough Cut Peer Notes Round
25
Day 24
✂️ Final Cut Build Session
26
Day 25
👥 Validation Screening with Festival Partner
July 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
29
Day 26
📝 Director’s Note and Intro Rehearsal
30
Day 27
🎥 Final Cut Presentation Gate
1
Day 28
Showcase
🎬 Festival Run-of-Show Rehearsal
2
Day 29
🎥 Behind the Lens Showcase
3
Day 30
📝 Director's Note Reflection Portfolio